The military may be transferring me to California and I see a lot on this board about California as hostile to Assault Rifle owners. Can I import my weapons as a new resident? What are the registration requirements? What other ownership restrictions exist?
If this transfer goes through (and I do have some choice) its going to be a real culture shock going from gun friendly Virginia to a real anti state.
Thanks

Hostile is an understatment.
I regret to inform you that there is no way you can legally bring an AR-15 into the Occupied California Republic.
I recommend that you put your AR into storage in Virginia.
Many people in CA, like myself, are very gun-friendly.
You were smart to ask.

It may be a longshot, but the law says a person moving into the state can obtain a AW "permit" (same permit required for machine guns). I've never heard of anyone being issued a permit but that doesn't mean it hasn't been done. You must show "good cause" for a permit. The permit isn't the same as "registration" because the registration period is over. They may make allowances for active duty military personnell, but you'll have to contact CA DOJ for clarification, or go through your chain of command.
If you bring your AW into California, they want you to turn it over to a licensed gun dealer until your permit is approved. DON'T DO THAT!!! Because if the permit is denied the dealer gets to keep the gun. Find out your options BEFORE moving here. Good luck!
[url]http://caag.state.ca.us/firearms/[/url]
Read under "The Dangerous Weapons Control Laws for the year 2001."

Our people look for a cause to believe in. Is it a third party we need, or is it a new and revitalized second party, raising a banner of no pale pastels, but bold colors which make it unmistakably clear where we stand...? ~ Ronald Reagan

Your base is Federal property, it's technically not in Kalifornia.
IF you can store on base, you might have them on a technicality. Personally, I'd store them in VA or NV.
Or maybe disassemble them. W/out the pistol grip, they are legal.

It has been reported that military personnel transferring into California may bring AW's into the state if they take them directly to the base and that they do not leave the base while you are here. Contact the Cal DOJ Firearms unit [url]http://caag.state.ca.us/firearms/index.html[/url] for [b]good[/b] information on the subject.

Just a reminder....they are NOT legal in California without the pistol grip, the law has been changed and is not based on offending features anymore. All the people who removed the pistol grips were allowed to add them and register during a sort of amnesty period. But from then on, any pistol or rifle NAMED on the list is banned, period.....pistol grip or not.

Originally Posted By fight4yourrights:
Or maybe disassemble them. W/out the pistol grip, they are legal.

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silverstrand pat is exactly right; ARs and AKs are banned by name, regardless of features, and the registration period for pre-existing rifles is over.
Guns not specifically named as part of the RR89 "extension list" are "only" covered by SB23, which is where the pistol-grip issue comes from. For example, parts-kit FALs and HK91's are legal to import without a pistol grip.
-Troy

Everyone thanks for your comments. I did follow the "link" provided by Big Bear and Dave G sendng the California DOJ Firearms Branch an email outlining my situation.
Just thinking out loud, but I wonder if I would be considered a temporary resident and not subject to California's AR ban just as someone transporting an AR15 from 1 state to another. If I transfer I would retain my VA Drivers License, Vehicle Registrations, Voter Registration, and remain a Virginia Tax Payer.
Its my understanding that each state honors the right of citizens of other states to transport weapons through their state while in transit. In my case it would take me 3 years to "transit (do a U turn)" California and head back to "Old Virginee"
Thanks again for all the comments
Bladerunner
LTC US Army

What kind of people are you electing there in CA??? Just joking, I know the kind of people because I just recently moved to NYC. And boy is it CRAZY here. Since I am not rich or famous, friends with the Mayor, or buddy buddy with the UNELECTED police commissioner that approves requests to own a gun, I will probably never see one here in NYC. Seriously, please get active. What is happening in the US is scary. So many people are apathetic or mislead by the media and left-wing politicians that peddle their flawed messages with hype and sensationalism. Get the FACTS, GET ACTIVE. Here is a link (you may have seen this)that provides a speech from C. Heston. Now you may or may not like the NRA but the speech is moving. Please read and think about it. To the LTC in the army, please instill in your troops the precious power they have in the vote. They can make a difference. I just left active duty (Navy LT) for grad school and I wish I would have pushed voting more in my shops.
Here is the link: http://www.law.harvard.edu/news/Charlton_Heston_speech.html
Take care, be kind, be responsible, be informed, and be safe.

Originally Posted By California Kid:
Hostile is an understatment.
I regret to inform you that there is no way you can legally bring an AR-15 into the Occupied California Republic.
I recommend that you put your AR into storage in Virginia.
Many people in CA, like myself, are very gun-friendly.
You were smart to ask.

Bladerunner,
If you get a reply from California DOJ on your situation, please post the information.
I am guessing that you are out of luck, but it would be interesting to know how CA DOJ views your situtuation.
Unless it is going to really set you back in your career, I recommend against moving to CA.
Just to set the tone, CA does not have equivalent 2nd Amendment language in its State Constitution (one of five states). CA has been building on the anti platform since statehood.
Good Luck!
cedric

I hadn't considered the possible legality of keeping it on base. However, a person who did that would not be able to use an AR anywhere off base without risking harassment or confiscation of an unregistered "AW".

I'm wondering if anyone has ever turned down a transfer to California, citing the inability to bring in personal "assault rifles"? Occasionally reading a thread like this provides a good reminder why I will never relocate to California.

I have to correct Troy's error is stating that an HK91 can be brought into/bought in California sans pistol-grip. The HK91/93/94/PSG1 are named AWs under RR89, and illegal to possess unless you owned them before 6-1-89 and registered them before 3-31-92. The clones and HK SR9/9T/9TC are subject to SB23 and can be possessed if the have no offending SB23 characteristics. The situation regarding the "Series" AWs, ARs/AKs, is not definite at the moment due to the CalSupCourt decision from a couple of weeks ago. The DOJ said they will take months to interpret the court decision to see if the AR/AK "Series" firearms are now only subject to SB23. If the DOJ says they are only SB23 firearms (and that might mean only new names that aren't on their expanded Series list) you might be able to have a pistol-gripless/flashhiderless AR clone) at some point you still couldn't use them in an SB23 config as it's a little too late to register them.

Originally Posted By Bladerunner:
The military may be transferring me to California and I see a lot on this board about California as hostile to Assault Rifle owners. Can I import my weapons as a new resident? What are the registration requirements? What other ownership restrictions exist?
If this transfer goes through (and I do have some choice) its going to be a real culture shock going from gun friendly Virginia to a real anti state.
Thanks

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I could provide a good, loving home in Alabama for your rifle while you're in PRK. It will be regularly fed and well cared for. [:)]

Been there, done that.
I sent a letter to the Kalifornication DOJ asking about the same thing.
I had orders to Kalifornication, I wanted to bring my AR15's with me.
I asked if I could bring them into the state as part of my move and store them in the base armory.
The reply I recieved stated:
Kalifornication defined assault weapons.... Illegal...bla bla bla...
You can transport them into the state of Kalifornication with your household goods shipment and store them in the base armory PROVIDING that:
You are not a rezident of the state of Kalifornication.
It is allowed by the military installation commander.
It can not leave the base unless under a permanent move out of the state under orders.
You may want to send your own letter to the KDOJ and ask.

I'm active-duty Army, and was looking up the Army regulations concerning my own privately owned weapons.
Army Regulation 190-11, [u]Physical Security of Arms, Ammunition, and Explosives[/u], dated 12 February 1998, is the regulation that governs this issue.
The entire chapter outlining personal weapons is kind of long, so I've only posted the pertinent part:

[b]4.5 [u]Privately-owned weapons and ammunition[/u][/b]
b. Personnel keeping or storing privately owned arms and ammunition (including authorized war trophies) on military installation will--
[b](1) Comply with local regulations and local and State laws on ownership, possession, registration, off-post transport, and use.[/b]

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Here's the website with the regulation, but I'm not sure if you can access it outside of a .mil domain:
[url]http://books.usapa.belvoir.army.mil/cgi-bin/bookmgr/BOOKS/R190_11/CCONTENTS[/url]
Chris